Sunday 10 July 2016

Christmas in July 2016 day 10 / Noël en juillet 2016 jour 10

CIJ day 10 / jour 10
Twelve days of Christmas

I have never done this but have seen this go by… especially on Pinterest!

According to Wikipedia:
It is a festive Christian season to celebrate the nativity of Jesus. In most Western Church traditions Christmas Day is the First Day of Christmas and the Twelve Days are 25 December – 5 January. 

When I was younger, I know that for us January 6 was the Kings day (Ephiphany) and ended the Christmas season.  We don’t celebrate it here anymore. There was a cake with a pea in it and the one who got it was King or Queen for the night.  AND we did not take down Christmas decorations until January 6th.

Lots more facts here http://www.whychristmas.com/customs/12daysofchristmas.shtml  Every one of those 12 days celebrate a Saint.

Song about the 12 days of Christmas:
What is the religious symbolism of the 12 days of Christmas?
Here is one rendition on what the religious symbolism is for the Twelve Days of Christmas:
1 True Love refers to God
2 Turtle Doves refers to the Old and New Testaments
3 French Hens refers to Faith, Hope and Charity, the Theological Virtues
4 Calling Birds refers to the Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists
5 Golden Rings refers to the first Five Books of the Old Testament, the "Pentateuch", which gives the history of man's fall from grace.
6 Geese A-laying refers to the six days of creation
7 Swans A-swimming refers to the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit, the seven sacraments
8 Maids A-milking refers to the eight beatitudes
9 Ladies Dancing refers to the nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit
10 Lords A-leaping refers to the ten commandments
11 Pipers Piping refers to the eleven faithful apostles
12 Drummers Drumming refers to the twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle's Creed
Nowadays, mostly people give small gifts the 12 days leading to Christmas.  Usually, it is Christian-based gifts or gifts that refer to the song.

Here’s some RAK ideas


Some small gift ideas for the 12 days of Christmas can also be found here

2 comments:

  1. Those are great RAK ideas!

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  2. My MIL always left her decorations up until after Kings Day. That is neat about the pea!

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